South Carolina State wins 2013 MEAC Women’s Tennis Championship

Raleigh, N.C., April 21, 2013– The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs defeated the Morgan State Lady Bears 4-3 to win the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Tennis Championship title on Sunday at Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C. The title is the ninth consecutive and the 10th overall for the Lady Bulldogs.

In doubles action, the Lady Bulldogs captured wins at the number one and three positions. SCSU’s Laura Brosneag and Victoriia Khatcei topped Morgan State’s Arina Alilueva and Jasmine Edwards, 8-3, to earn the Lady Bulldogs the doubles victory and first point of the day.

South Carolina State went up 3-0 with two quick wins at the number three and five positions in singles play. Morgan State battled back earning victories at the two and four spots. Morgan State’s number one, Ekaterina Iakovleva, tied the match (3-3) with a 6-4, 6-4 win over SCSU’s Maria Craciun.

Lady Bulldog’s Laura Brosneag won the winning point with a thrilling three-set win over MSU’s Jasmine Edwards. Brosneag lost the first set, 7-6, but took the next two sets 6-0, 6-0 to help the Lady Bulldogs secure the title.

SCSU’s Victoriia Khatcei was named Outstanding Performer while head coach Hardeep Judge was named Outstanding Coach.

Khatcei recorded a 3-0 record in singles play and a 3-0 mark in doubles action to win the honor. Judge was named the Outstanding Coach for the ninth time in his career on the women’s side.

With the win, South Carolina State (15-4) receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship. The Division I Women’s Tennis Selection Show will air Tuesday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.